Pneumatic precipitating powder applying apparatus



F. J. LUND Nov. 18. 19669 PNEUMATIC PRECIPITATTNG POWDER APPLYING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet i Original Filed March 24. 1965 FIG. I

INVENTOR FREDERICK J. LUND QM/w fii, ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1969 F. J. LUND 3,478,969

PNEUMATIC PRECIPITATING POWDER APPLYING APPARATUS Original Filed March 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FREDERICK J. LUND 0 mm ,"ik

ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1969 F. J. LUND 3,478,969

PNEUMATIC PREGIPITATING POWDER APPLYING APPARATUS Original Filed March 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet ."s

FREDERICK J. LUND ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1969 F. J. LUND 7 ,9

PNEUMATIC PRECIPITATING POWDER APPLYING APPARATUS Original. Filed March 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

FREDERICK J. LUND ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1969 F. J. LUND 3,478,969

PNEUMATIC PRECIPITATING POWDER APPLYING APPARATUS Original Filed March 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

FREDERICK J. LUND ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1969 F. J. LUND 3,478,969

4 E'NZUMATIC IRECAEITATTNG TOWIJCR APPL Z ING APPARATUS Original Filed March 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR FREDERICK J. LUND ATTORNEYS United States Patent Off ce 3,478,969 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 3,478,969 PNEUMATIC PRECIPITATING POWDER APPLYING APPARATUS Frederick J. Lund, 215 N. Prairie Ave., Mundelein, Ill. 60060 Continuation of application Ser. No. 444,103, Mar. 24, 1965. This application Mar. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 540,134

Int. Cl. A01c 15/04 US. Cl. 239-654 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An anti-offset powder dispensing apparatus for distributing powder on an object to be protected comprising an elongated powder container having opposed blade members defining a powder dispensing opening, a cylindrical feed roller having a roughened metallic surface and positioned parallel and adjacent to said container at said opening and which is adapted to hold powder, means for driving said roller through said container opening whereby powder is removed onto said roughened surface and a plurality of jet means positioned closely adjacent to and extending along said roller to transfer the powder from said surface to the object to be protected.

This application is a continuation of United States application Ser. No. 444,103, filed Mar. 24, 1965, now abandoned.

This invention relates to powder applying apparatus and methods and more particularly to powder applying apparatus and methods for treating, e.g., preventing offset of freshly printed stock and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide improvements in the application of powder to freshly printed materials.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel processes, steps, parts, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

Serving to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention are the drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view partly in section of poWder applying apparatus according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective sectional view and FIG- URES 3 and 4 bottom and side elevation views respectively, of the apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are end elevational views partly in section of three further embodiments of the invention.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 comprises a powder container, hopper or reservoir 1 which may include a cover, not shown, and also includes external longitudinal wall members 2, 3 and end wall members 4, (see FIG. 4). A sheet-like member or blade 6 is connected as by screws 7, FIG. 2, to wall 2 of the fountain to form a powder boundary or confining surface which preferably also serves as a metering blade. Along an intermediate portion of its surface, blade 6 engages blade adjustment means illustratively embodied as a block 10 slidable on a bearing ledge 11 which is secured to wall 2. Adjustment of block 10 to control or meter the powder feed is illustratively accomplished by means of a screw 12 connected thereto and threaded through wall 2.

Forming an additional powder boundary surface within container 1 is a sheet-like member or blade 15 connected at its upper edge as by screws 16, FIG. 2, to wall 3 and engaging along an intermediate portion a ledge 17 secured to wall 3. Ledge 17, in addition to supporting or controlling the position of blade 15, may also act as a stiffener for the reservoir which in some installations may be over 6 feet long.

The distal ends of blades 6 and 15 are spaced to form an opening which receives a surface portion of movable powder feed means embodied as a rotatable powder feed roll 20 having end axle portions 20a and 20b, FIG. 4, journalled in respective bearings 21 and 22 which are located in turn in end walls 4 and 5, respectively.

Roll 20 is preferably of metal construction, e.g., steel, is solid, and is rotatably driven by variable speed motive means illustratively comprising an electric motor mechanism 25, FIG. 4, having an output shaft 25a coupled to axle 2012 of the roll via coupling 26. The motor mechanism is conveniently mounted on a bracket 27 secured to container 1 and this bracket may also facilitate connection of the apparatus to a printing mechanism or the like as by bolt 28 and other connectors not shown.

The surface of roll 20 is provided with an irregular or roughened finish as by Sand blasting or etching and plating to form a powder adhering surface for withdrawing powder from the trough 1. Clearance between blade 6 and the roll is variable and depends on the powder used. Proper clearance or engagement permits the powder withdrawal with the powder being subsequently dislodged from roll 20 by pneumatic means for developing an air stream. These means may comprise a plurality of air jets 30, FIGS. 1, 2. The pneumatic means are embodied as an air tube 31 adapted to receive pneumatic pressure and having a series of spaced orifices 31a axially disposed in the wall thereof. In an illustrative embodiment these orifices may be about inch apart. The orifices are preferably equipped with respective spray nozzles 32 which direct the streams 30 toward the surface of roll 20, the streams having components of air flow directed tangentially at the feed roll surface. In an illustrative embodiment the nozzles may be about X inch in diameter. The resultant dispensed powder is directed to the moving surface of a web or sheet T which is to be protected from offset. Powder not dislodged is returned to the reservoir as it is transported between the feed roll and blade 15.

Air tube 31 is illustratively mounted on an extension 3a of wall 3 and is adapted to be charged as schematically indicated from a source A of air pressure via a line 33. The pneumatic system will usually include a pressure regulator, filter and other accessories which are not shown.

The anti-offset powder may comprise various organic or inorganic materials such as starches, talcs or the like and the particle size is selected to be sufficiently large to provide effective separation and preferably small enough so as to be generally unnoticeable.

For restricting a possible broad dispersion of powder and guiding its movement, an air curtain 35 may be provided as by air spray means 31, 32' similar in construction and actuation to spray means 31, 32. The longitudinal position of nozzles 32' may be staggered with respect to the opposing nozzles 32. The air supply (not shown) to line 31 is preferably adjustable independently of line 31 and line 31 is preferably adjustable rotatably in accordance with the direction of movement of the sheet or web so that the powder may be impelled partially in the direction of sheet travel and otherwise adjustably guided as required. For example, the effect of ambient air currents may be nullified by proper adjustment of line 31'.

For imparting rigidity where required and effecting to a partial extent the spacing of parts, the dispenser may include adjustable cross braces such as, for example, the turnbuckle arangements 40 connected between the wallblade combinations 2, 6 and 3, 15. The turnbuckles include threaded shafts 40 each having collars 40b and lock nuts 400. Further adjustment may be provided by rendering blade 15 adjustable as by mechanism similar to adjustment 10, 12.

3 In some cases it may be desirable to rotate roll 20 in a direction opposite to that shown.

The embodiment of FIGURE is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, except in the relative position and orientation of air line 31 and in the dimensions of wall 3', extension 3b thereof, and the spacing of walls 2 and 3'.

The embodiment of FIGURE 6 is also generally similar to the previous embodiments; it differs in the installation of air line 31 on member 17 rather than on an extension of wall 3". As a result, the position of the air line and jets 30 relative to feed roll 20 is different from that of the previously described embodiments.

The embodiment of FIGURE 7 is particularly adapted to the deposition of materials such as powdered wax and the like. As in the above-described embodiments, a trough is formed of spaced wall members 70, 71, one end plate 72 and its opposite member (not shown), and spaced blades 73, 74. Feed roll 20 rotates in a direction opposite to its counterparts in the prior described embodiments and is preferably more deeply etched or sand blasted than these counterparts.

To provide proper spacing between blade 74 and roll 20 so that flattening of wax particles is avoided, adjustment means 75, constructed as hereinbefore described, are provided for setting the position of blade 74.

Pneumatic stream forming means 76, 77, similar to the previously described arrangements, are provided on the trailing side of the trough for dislodging and guiding the particles carried by roll 20' to the surface T to be treated. Any residual particles are dislodged by similar jet forming means 78, 79 on the leading side of the reservoir.

It will be understood from the foregoing and the accompanying drawings that, as herein used, the trailing side of the container refers to that side on which is located the blade member which is last to cooperate with the powder feed roller, and the leading side of the container refers to that side on which is located the blade member which is first to cooperate with the powder feed roller.

Blade 73 may also be conveniently provided with an adjusting assembly 80.

The invention is not limited to the specific methods and mechanisms herein shown and described, but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. Anti-offset powder dispensing apparatus for distributing powder on a surface to be protected from offset beneath said apparatus, comprising an elongated powder container having opposed blade members forming powder boundary surfaces, said opposed blade members defining an elongated, horizontally and generally vertically extending powder dispensing opening in a side of said container, a feed roller rotatably mounted and positioned parallel and adjacent to said container at said opening and in tangential cooperating relationship with both opposing blade members, said roller having a cylindrical surface a portion of which is positioned in said opening, said cylindrical surface being of a metallic, roughened construction, which is adapted to releasably hold said powder, means for driving said roller to move said cylindrical surface through said opening whereby powder is removed on said cylindrical surface from the side of said container through said opening, means for adjustably setting the position of each of said blade members with respect to said roller, whereby said blade member last cooperating with said roller serves to meter the powder removed by said cylindrical surface, and pneumatic powder transfer means for transferring from said metallic surface to said surface to be protected, substantially all of said powder picked up by said-metallic surface, said transfer means consisting of a plurality of air jets of circular cross-section positioned closelyadjacent to and extending along said roller for directing streams of air against said roller in a downwardly direction opposite to the direction of movement of said metallic surface of said roller and substantially tangential to said metallic surface, said air jets being the only active means provided in the apparatus for removing powder from said cylindrical surface for distribution on the surface to be protected.

2. Anti-offset powder dispensing apparatus for distributing powder on a surface to be protected from offset beneath said apparatus, comprising an elongated powder container having opposed blade members forming powder boundary surfaces, said opposed blade members defining an elongated, horizontally and generally vertically extending powder dispensing opening in a side of said container, a feed roller rotatably mounted and positioned parallel and adjacent to said container at said opening and in tangential cooperating relationship with both op posing blade members, said roller having a cylindrical surface a portion of which is positioned in said opening, said cylindrical surface being of a metallic, roughened construction which is adapted to releasably hold said powder, means for driving said roller in a direction so as to move said cylindrical surface upwardly through said opening whereby powder is removed on said cylindrical surface from the side of said container through said opening, means for adjustably setting the position of each of said blade members with respect to said rollers, whereby said blade member last cooperating with said roller serves to meter the powder removed by said cylindrical surface, and pneumatic powder transfer means for transferring from said metallic surface to said surface to be protected, substantially all of said powder picked up by said metallic surface, said transfer means consisting of a first plurality of air jets of circular cross-section positioned on the trailing side of said container closely adjacent to and extending along said roller for directing streams of air against said roller downwardly in the direction of movement of said metallic surface of said roller and substantially tangential to said metallic surface and a second plurality of air jets positioned on the leading side of said container so as to direct streams of air against a portion of said cylindrical surface located substantially immediately below said powder dispensing opening in said container, said first and second plurality of air jets being the only active means provided in the apparatus for removing powder from said cylindrical surface for distribution on the surface to be protected.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 467,957 2/1892 Silverlock 118-308 1,977,321 10/1934 Merritt et al 118308 1,986,047 1/1935 Dawley et al 118308 2,027,307 1/1936 Schacht 117-17 2,057,548 10/1936 Wallach et a1 117-16 2,394,657 2/ 1946 Beregh 118-308 3,114,482 12/ 1963 Dunaway 222328 3,061,150 10/1962 Lindquist 118308 3,229,447 1/1966 Kosta 118-63 3,235,401 2/1966 Fowells et a1. 11863 3,238,919 3/1966 Meyer 118308 WILLIAM D. MARTIN, Primary Examiner P. ATTAGUILE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 117-16; 118-63, 308 

